Yann wants a win on Valley return

Reading striker Yann Kermorgant is looking forward to returning to former club Charlton for Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship clash, and hoping to take three points for the Royals from the meeting.

The forward is hoping the Royals can build on the two wins the club have picked up in the past week and take their impressive home form on the road. 34-year-old Kermorgant enjoyed a victorious return to The Valley last year in Bournemouth colours, lifting the Championship trophy on his old patch with the Cherries on the final day of the season.

“I had such a great time with Charlton, and with the fans so it is always great to go back,” said Kermorgant. “We achieved some great things there: promotion in my first season and then did well in the Championship the following year. Unfortunately now the club are in trouble which is a shame to see.

“I will do my best to win the game and we will do our best to build on two good wins on Saturday and Tuesday, we’re hungry to get another three points.”

Kermorgant has been pleased with Reading’s recent defensive record and feels it is a platform the team can build on to start picking up wins on a consistent basis.

“I think we’ve done well in the last few games by keeping clean sheets which are really important,” reflected the Frenchman. “It was great to get that goal on Tuesday to earn us the win and hopefully we can get another clean sheet on Saturday with a few goals.

“It was a difficult game on Tuesday; we had to fight for every ball and try to nick the goal to get the three points, and that’s what we did, so we were all happy after the game.”

The striker believes Tuesday night’s league victory over Rotherham epitomised the team ethic Brian McDermott is instilling at the club and will be very important moving forward.

Despite not yet getting on the score-sheet for the Royals, Kermorgant is sure the goals will come as he gets more game time for the club, something he found hard to come by at Bournemouth earlier in the season.

“Rotherham was a good example of us playing as a team. I did not play my best game in terms of technique, I lost a couple of balls I would normally expect to control, but in both boxes I think I have been good in the air to help the team and defended well, so if I can do that job well than that is a good thing.

“It always takes time to get used to playing with new teammates, especially as a striker, but I’m starting to do that now.

“Even physically I’m fitter now because even though I was training in the Premier League with Bournemouth, I was often on the bench and I didn’t have match fitness which you can only get through playing games. I just need to get my confidence back by scoring that goal and I will feel freer!”